Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, will partner with Twelve, a carbon transformation company, to advance sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from CO2 and renewable energy in the industry. The airline announced the partnership earlier this week.

The collaboration will support Etihad's sustainability strategy in which it plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and turn waste into fuel, diverting 75% of waste from landfills by 2025. It comes as SAF has seen an increase in demand from several airlines.

A unique formula

Twelve has developed its E-Jet fuel, which Etihad will assist in accelerating its production and use. According to the carbon transformation company, the E-Jet fuel is a low-carbon jet fuel produced by a power-to-power liquids process and intended to leverage the company's carbon transformation technology. Both Etihad and Twelve will work together to plan an international demonstration flight, expanding the impact of SAF in the global market.

Twelve co-founder and CEO Nicholas Flanders spoke about the company's unique partnership with Etihad.

“We are honored to partner with Etihad to work toward a supply of drop-in jet fuel made from air, not oil. Our E-Jet fuel allows airlines like Etihad to reduce emissions by up to 90% with their existing aircraft fleet, which will be critical to achieving the United Nations’ 2050 net-zero emissions target in aviation.”

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Mission to be green

SAF coincides with Etihad's mission to accelerate innovation to change aviation's course for good. The airline launched the Etihad Greenliner Program in 2019, dedicating a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner to sustainability. The program's main objective is to discover the critical sustainability issues and address them with partnerships with Boeing and engine manufacturer GE. In 2022, Etihad was named Environmental Airline of the Year by Airline Ratings. Its new collaboration with Twelve promotes its mission even further.

The Etihad Boeing 787 Greenliner
Photo: Etihad Airways

"Etihad Airways is working hard on its sustainability strategy and deploying a range of initiatives across the spectrum of sustainability to achieve that," said Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad's Chief Operating Officer. "Collaborating with sustainable aviation fuel makers like Twelve to advance products like E-Jet fuel is an important part of that drive."

Fuel for the long-term

Twelve's E-Jet fuel was tested and validated by the US Air Force. The company said its technology to produce the fuel incorporated renewable energy and water to transform CO2 into essential chemicals and materials made from fossil fuels. The formula decreased lifecycle emissions by 90% compared to conventional fossil-based and works well with existing aircraft. Twelve said its E-Jet fuel is seen as a long-term solution to tackle emissions in the aviation industry.

Etihad Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Photo: Dirk Daniel Mann | Shutterstock

Etihad's new partnership with Twelve is not the first for the carbon transformation company. Last year, the company began collaborating with Seattle-based Alaska Airlines to advance the production of E-Jet fuel. Alaska and Twelve are reportedly working towards a commercial demonstration flight in the US with the unique fuel.

Twelve has also worked with technology giant Microsoft to increase production of the E-Jet fuel. Additionally, Shopify, one of the largest corporate purchasers of long-term carbon removal, purchased the fuel in March 2022.

Source: Etihad Airways, Twelve